Coconut Smoothie Bowl (Paleo, dairy-free)

This Coconut Smoothie Bowl is thick, creamy and a great breakfast with all your favorite toppings!

You just need 4 ingredients and 10 minutes to make this easy smoothie bowl recipe.

Plus it’s dairy-free, vegan and Paleo, and contains no added sweeteners of any kind.

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Why this recipe works

Smoothie bowls are a fun way to start the day – you get all the benefits of a smoothie, but you get to add a bunch of scrumptious toppings!

But not only are a lot of smoothies made with milk and/or yogurt, which are not a part of a Paleo diet, they often have added sugar too, which is unnecessary.

So this is a smoothie bowl without milk or yogurt and the only sugar comes from whole foods like bananas and coconut milk.

For the coconut flavor, we’re using two sources: full-fat unsweetened coconut milk and coconut water.

We’re using bananas for natural sweetness, plus they’re the best way to get thick, sweet creaminess in any smoothie or smoothie bowl.

And just to make these even healthier and more filling, we’re adding protein powder to truly make this coconut smoothie bowl a well-rounded meal.

Heads up! You need to freeze the bananas and coconut milk before making the recipe. Just throw them in the freezer the night before and you’ll be all set.

 

What you need

Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup coconut water
• 2 large bananas, peeled, chopped and frozen (I freeze them in freezer-safe baggies)
• 1/2 cup full-fat unsweetened coconut milk, frozen into cubes (you’ll need about 5-6 large cubes)
• 1.5-2 scoops unsweetened, unflavored protein powder (I like this brand to keep the recipe Paleo-friendly)
• Topping ideas:
  • other fruits like chopped mango, kiwi or pineapple, berries, cherries
  • your favorite seeds or nuts
  • cacao nibs
  • a drizzle of your favorite nut butter
  • a drizzle of melted chocolate
  • unsweetened shredded coconut or coconut flakes

Equipment:

• a blender (I’ve been using this one for years – it’s almost as powerful as a Vitamix but half the price)
• a measuring glass
• ice cube trays for freezing the coconut milk
• freezer-safe baggies or containers for freezing the peeled, chopped bananas
• a spatula or wooden spoon for scooping the smoothie out of the blender into bowls

Instructions

Pour the coconut water into the jar of a blender. Then add the bananas, coconut milk cubes and protein powder.

Blend until smooth and creamy. Because of all the frozen ingredients, this might take 2-4 minutes. Stop and scrape down the sides of the blender jar if necessary.

Only blend until just blended. If you blend longer than necessary, you’ll incorporate more air into the smoothie and it’ll become light and frothy instead of thick and dense.

Scoop the smoothie into bowls, add your toppings and enjoy!

 

FAQ

Can I make any substitutions?

If you don’t like bananas, you could try frozen mango instead, but the flavor might overpower the coconut flavor.

You can use water or nut milk in place of the coconut water.

You could try lite coconut milk or coconut milk from a carton, but the end result won’t be as thick.

You can use your favorite protein powder, even if it’s flavored. Some good flavors for this recipe would be chocolate, vanilla or strawberry.

 

Can this be made ahead of time?

Yes. Scrape the smoothie into a freezer-safe container/baggie and freeze for up to 6 months.

Take it out of the freezer about 20-30 minutes before serving.

 

Is this a Paleo smoothie bowl?

Yep! Just check the ingredients on your protein powder to be sure. I like this brand to keep it Paleo.

 

Is this a dairy-free smoothie bowl?

Yep. There’s no milk or yogurt in this recipe. Instead it uses coconut milk, which is dairy-free.

Be sure to check the ingredients on your protein powder to make sure it’s dairy-free.

 

Is this a vegan smoothie bowl?

Yep. There’s no milk or yogurt in this recipe. Instead it uses coconut milk, which is vegan.

Be sure to check the ingredients on your protein powder to make sure it’s vegan.

 

You might also like:

1. Sweet Potato Smoothie Bowl (Paleo, dairy-free)
2. Vanilla Coconut Chia Pudding (Paleo, dairy-free)
3. Berry Banana Protein Smoothie (Paleo, dairy-free)
4. Strawberry Banana Smoothie (Paleo, dairy-free)

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